Since the end of trench warfare, most military combat knives have been secondarily designed for utility use (clearing foliage, chopping branches for cover, opening ammunition crates, etc.) in addition to their original role as close-quarter combat weapons, and may be referred to as "fighting-utility knives."[4][5] On the other hand, military knives that are intended primarily for use in a role other than combat are typically referred to by their primary role, such as "utility knife" or "survival knife".

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Daggers designed for military usage in close combat engagements have been carried by soldiers for thousands of years. The adoption of combat daggers made of iron was a significant milestone in combat knife development, and such weapons were highly prized in the ancient armies of the Middle East.[6] French and Italian military daggers of the 14th century were the first to introduce the acutely tapered, sharply pointed and double-edged blade as a response to improvements made in armor design and the need to exploit weaknesses in armor protection.[7] The English and Scandinavians introduced a combat knife known as the "bollock dagger" into military service around 1350,[7] while the French poignard and the Scottish dirk were daggers designed from the outset as military weapons.

The rise in use of firearms led to a decline in the use of combat daggers and knives as military-issue weapons. However, privately purchased knives were often carried by foot soldiers for use both as auxiliary weapons and as utility tools. Some military forces issued knives for individual campaigns or for specialist troops such as pioneer or field engineer detachments, but these cutting tools were not primarily designed for use as combat knives.[8]

Formerly known as a trench knife, the "combat knife"[1] was used by both sides on the Western front during World War I. Since then, combat knives have been issued by the armies of many nations. Though they differ in detail, they all share the common characteristic of being purposely designed for military use, with their primary role as a close-quarters combat weapon.

In late 1942, the U.S. Marine Corps adopted the 1219C2, later designated the "USMC Mark 2 Combat Knife," but better known in popular terminology as the KA-BAR.[9] The KA-BAR differed from WWI-era U.S. combat knives in that it was purposely designed as a dual-purpose weapon, adapted for both combat and as a utility knife.[9][10] It also differed from some earlier USMC knives such as the Marine Raider Stiletto in that the new knife used a stout, wide blade with clip point that facilitated slashing attacks as well as blade thrusts.[11] Subsequent reports on the effectiveness of the new knife in jungle combat substantiated the Marine Corps decision to standardize the KA-BAR as the USMC's fighting knife for individual Marines.[10]

The U.S. Army adopted the M3 Trench Knife in 1943 as its standard combat knife.[3] The M3 replaced the earlier WWI-vintage Mark I trench knife in combat service.[3] The M3 was a true combat knife, as it was designed for solely for military use and was primarily intended as a fighting knife, though some compromises were made in the design to conserve strategic materials.[3][12][13] When adapted to utility tasks such as opening ration tins or ammunition boxes, the limitations of the M3 quickly became apparent.[12]

In the United States, Knifemaker Bo Randall began production of the "All Purpose Fighting Knife" giving it the designation of "Number 1" in his catalog. Between 1942 and 1945, Randall Made Knives produced 4,000 of these knives for battlefield use by US troops, with approximately 1,058 knives additionally subcontracted to Northampton Cutlery Company in Springfield, Massachusetts to meet wartime demand. In the 1950s Randall would adopt the general pattern of the Bowie knife for several of his fighting knife designs.[14][15]

The majority of military forces today have largely standardized the types of combat knife issued to soldiers. The Chilean Commando forces, for instance, are trained in the use of the Corvo, a traditional Chilean military weapon.[16][17] The Gurkha regiments favor the Kukri, a broad-bladed, curved general-purpose cutting tool and weapon that more closely resembles a machete or FilipinoBolo than a knife.[18] In the United States Marine Corps, the standard issue combat knife since World War II has been the USMC Fighting Utility knife.[4]

Designed for military use, with input for Capt. George Ingraham, a combat surgeon in the U.S. Army's 94th Medical Detachment, the No. 14 Randall "Attack" Model was a popular combat knife designed for military use, and the knife was widely purchased by individual soldiers and Marines. During the conflict, Randall received feedback from Captain Ingraham, who requested serrations on the spine to cut through the fuselage of downed aircraft to rescue trapped personnel and a hollow handle to allow storage of survival gear. Randall made the changes and the result was the first of the modern survival knives.[15]

Another combat knife appearing during the Vietnam War was the Gerber Mark II, designed for military use by US Army Captain Bud Holzman and Al Mar which in turn was based on the pattern of a Roman Mainz Gladius or short sword.[19] In the 1970s and 1980s a student and protégé of Fairbairn, Colonel Rex Applegate worked with knife designer Bill Harsey, Jr. to design the Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Knife, so named because it was designed as an improvement on the Fairbairn-Sykes based upon discussions Applegate and Fairbairn had during World War II to eliminate the weaknesses of the F-S knife (e.g., weak blade point, inability to determine orientation of blade merely by grip). The first of these knives were made by Al Mar Knives, based on Harsey's designs.[20]

The German Military uses EickhornKM2000 as their standard issue knife. The design is westernized tanto being actually issued to Bundeswehr.[23] Blade is made of either 440A and N695 depending on different models. Some of them use 55Si7 spring steel. The knifemaker Eickhorn situated in Solingen, Germany has issued KCB-77 bayonets to Canadian Military and USMC too. Apart from KM2000 there are many other knives from Eickhorn which are KM3000, KM4000, KM5000, ParaCommando, Aviator Series knives. The knives from Eickhorn are extremely sturdy and for professional use. Those knives are also preferred by military forces worldwide.

The Austrian Forces use the Glock knife, a very strong knife. The knife is also used as bayonet for the Steyr AUGbullpup rifle used by Austrian Forces. The blade is made up of phosphated carbon steel. The handle is a special strong polymer manufactured by Glock. Glock knife is also used by special forces around the world.

^ abPeterson, Harold L., Daggers and Fighting Knives of the Western World, Courier Dover Publications, ISBN 0-486-41743-3, ISBN 978-0-486-41743-1 (2001), p. 80: "Right at the outset trench knives were introduced by both sides during World War I, so that the common soldier was once again equipped with a knife designed primarily for combat."

^Burton, Walter E., Knives For Fighting Men, Popular Science, July 1944, Vol. 145 No. 1, p. 150: A combat knife is specifically designed for military use, and is thus a more restrictive category than that of a fighting knife or tactical knife, either of which may include knives designed for civilian use. Thus, a bowie knife designed for civilian sale and use may be termed a fighting knife, but not a combat knife, while the U.S. Army's M3 trench knife, designed specifically for the military for close-quarters fighting, is both a combat knife and a fighting knife.

^MCRP 3-02B: Close Combat, Washington, D.C.: Department Of The Navy, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, 12 February 1999: "Marines use slashing techniques to close with an enemy. Slashing techniques distract or damage an opponent so Marines can close in."